Scraper blade apparatus

ABSTRACT

A scraper blade apparatus including an elongated blade member of concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration connected to one end of an elongated, horizontally extending supporting beam. The structure used to interconnect the blade member to the supporting beam permits the blade member to be pivoted about a vertical axis, and also about a horizontal axis so that the blade member can be adjusted in its angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the elongated supporting beam and also canted or angled with respect to the ground. The supporting beam is pivotally secured at its end opposite that end which carries the blade member to a horizontally extending transverse mounting beam which has a plurality of mounting brackets adapted for connecting the mounting beam to a self-powered towing or carrying vehicle.

[72] Inventor [54] SCRAlPlER BLADE APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS 156,2314/1954 Australia 244,864 5/1965 Austria Primary Examiner-Robert E.Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney-Dunlap, Laney,Hessin & Do'ugherty TRACT: A scraper blade apparatus including anelongated blade member of concavo-convex cross-sectional configurationconnected to one end of an elongated, horizontally extending supportingbeam. The structure used to interconnect the blade member to thesupporting beam permits the blade member to be pivoted about a verticalaxis, and also about a horizontal axis so that the blade member can beadjusted in its angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of theelongated supporting beam and also canted or angled with respect to theground. The supporting beam is pivotally secured at its end oppositethat end which carries the blade member to a horizontally extendingtransverse mounting beam which has a plurality of mounting bracketsadapted for carrying vehicle.

PATENTEDAPRZNQH 3576215 sum 1 BF 2 IL E INVIQN TOR. Tr-o La CL/A/zscsaam s AIPPTUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to earth-working apparatus and, more particularly, toan elongated scraper blade of the type adapted to be detachably carriedon a self-powered vehicle.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Many types of scraper blades foruse in loosening or removing dirt from the surface of the ground haveheretofore been proposed. Bulldozer blades are, of course, adapted toaccomplish this objective, and many types of elongated scraper bladeshave been proposed for mounting on the threepoint hitch connection ofagricultural vehicles to permit irrigation ditches to be dug, and damsand the like to be constructed. These scraper blades have usually beenconstructed so that they can be pivoted about one or more axes to permitthe position of the blade in relation to the vehicle upon which it ismounted, or with respect to the earth, to be varied and adjusted. Thefreedom of movement and adjustability of the blades previously proposedhave often permitted them to be canted at an angle with respect to theground, and have also permitted them to be swung or pivoted about avertical axis so that they can be set at the preselected or desiredangle with respect to the path of travel of the vehicle on which theyare supported or carried. In some instances, scraper blade devices andmachinery have permitted the entire blade to be swung bodily to one sideor the other of the line of travel of the vehicle upon which the bladeis mounted so that the blade can be offset from directly behind thevehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present inventionprovides a scraper blade apparatus which permits an elongated scraperblade to be selectively positioned so that it may accomplish a widevariety of earthmoving tasks with ease. Broadly described, the scraperblade apparatus of the invention comprises an elongated blade member ofconcavo-convex cross-sectional configuration. The blade member hassecured thereto intermediate its length a hollow socket housing whichdetachably receives a vertically extending blade post. The blade post issecured in the socket housing by pivot pin means which permits the blademember to pivot on the blade post about a substantially horizontallyextending pivotal axis. The lower end of the blade post, which islocated in the hollow socket housing, is connected to one end of anangle adjusting means which has its opposite end connected to the blademember to one side of the socket housing. By adjusting the length of theangle-adjusting means, the blade member may be caused to pivot about thepivot pin means to adjust the angle of the blade member with respect tothe ground.

The upper end of the blade post is secured to a pivot plate which is asubstantially monoplanar, circular or disc-shaped member extending in asubstantially horizontal plane. The pivot plate abuts a stationarymounting plate which is shaped similarly to the pivot plate and extendsparallel thereto. The mounting plate is secured to the lower side of oneend of an elongated support beam. A vertically extending pivot pinextends through the support beam and mounting plate and is used topivotally support the pivot plate and blade post beneath, and in contactwith, the mounting plate.

At the opposite end of the support beam from the end to which the blademember is connected, the support beam is pivotally connected to atransversely extending mounting beam. The mounting beam has securedthereto, a plurality of mounting brackets which can be utilized toconnect the scraper blade apparatus to a self-powered vehicle, such asan agricultural tractor or the like.

Secured between the transversely extending mounting beam and the supportbeam is an angle-adjusting means which can be selectively changed in itslength to cause the angle between the mounting beam and the support beamto be varied.

From the brief foregoing description of the invention, it will havebecome apparent that an important object of the invention is to providean improved scraper blade apparatus which can be quickly and easilymounted on a self-powered vehicle, and which can be adjusted in itsangular relationship to the path of travel of the vehicle, can be cantedat a preselected angle with respect to the ground, and can be swung orpivoted out of the line of travel of the vehicle upon which it ismounted so that the entire blade structure is offset to one side or theother of the carrying vehicle.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a scraperblade structure which can be pivoted about horizontal and vertical axes,and can be swung from side to side with relatively simple mechanicalstructure which is strong and durable, and can be easily operated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a scraper bladeapparatus which is versatile in its capability for earthmoving,leveling, and excavating operations.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentas the following detailed description of the invention is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thescraper blade apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the scraper blade apparatus depictedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the scraper blade illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the scraper blade apparatus of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the scraper blade apparatus depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the scraper blade apparatus depicted inFIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONReferring to FIG. ll of the drawings, an elongated .support beam forminga portion of the scraper blade apparatus of the invention is designatedby reference numeral 10. The elongated support beam has secured to theupper side thereof a triangularly shaped brace plate 12 which extendsover a major portion of the length of the support beam. At one of itsends, the horizontally extending, elongated support beam 10 has securedto the underside thereof a circular, horizontally extending mountingplate M. A mounting bolt 16 extends vertically through the support beam10 and through the mounting plate M. The mounting bolt 16 projectsthrough the mounting plate M and through an aperture 18 formed in acircular, disc-shaped pivot plate 20' which flatly abuts the lower sideof the mounting plate M in the manner best depicted in FIG. 3. The pivotplate 20 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper end of ahollow blade post 22 which, as shown in FIG. 4, extends into arelatively large opening in the upper side of a socket housing 26. Thesocket housing has a hollow interior and has a pivot pin 28 extendedthrough the rear side thereof and through a mating hole or aperture (notvisible) formed in the rear side of the blade post 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the blade post 22 and pivot plate 20 are pivotallysecured beneath the mounting plate 14 by threading a suitable washer andnut 30 onto the lower end of the mounting bolt 16. In HG. 4, it will benoted that a lug 32 is secured to the lower end of the blade post 22 andthat the lug is secured to one end of an extensible threaded rod 34forming a portion of a turnbuckle assembly designated generally bereference numeral 36. A threaded rod 3% at the other end of theturnbuckle assembly 36 is secured to a suitable lug or bracket All whichis secured to one end portion of an elongated scraper blade memberhaving a concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration. The blade member42 is reinforced by suitable elongated ribs 44 and 46 as bestillustrated in FIGS. 2, and 6.

For the purpose of locking the elongated blade member 42 in a particularangular relationship with respect to the elongated support beam 10, alatching mechanism designated generally by reference numeral 50 isprovided at the rear of the scraper blade apparatus and is secured ontothe elongated support beam in a manner best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2. The latching mechanism 50 includes a pair of transversely spacedbrackets 52 which are secured to the end of the support beam 10 andwhich are notched to receive the mounting plate 14 and the pivot plate20. A securing tongue 54 having an upwardly and forwardly extendinghandle 56 formed thereon is pivotally supported on a pivot pin 58 whichextends through the brackets 52 in a horizontal direction. The securingtongue 54 can thus be pivoted on the pivot pin 58 to move its lower endbetween the brackets 52 outwardly and to the rear with respect to thebrackets. This pivotal movement is resiliently resisted by a suitablespring 58 which is provided between the upper portion 56 of the securingtongue 54 and the support beam 10. The lower end of the securing tongue54 carries a forwardly projecting tongue which projects into a selectedone of a series of circumferentially-spaced notches 62 cut into theouter periphery of the pivot plate 20.

Secured to the upper side of the triangularly shaped brace plate 12 andprojecting upwardly therefrom are a pair of hydraulic line guide loops64 and 66. There is also provided on the upper side of the triangularlyshaped brace plate 12, a U- shaped lifting bracket 68 which can be usedto hoist the scraper blade apparatus of the present invention upon aflatbed truck for transport, or to move the structure for any otherreason by means of a vertical hoist.

At the forward end of the triangularly shaped brace plate 12, the braceplate extends under an upper pin plate 70 which is welded or otherwisesuitably secured to a pair of substantially parallel, central mountingbrackets 72 and 74. The central mounting brackets 72 and 74 areapertured near their upper end portions with a pair of apertures 76 and78 to facilitate connection of the central hitch brackets to the centralconnection of a three-part hitch connection as hereinafter described.Adjacent their lower ends, the central mounting brackets 72 and 74 aresecured to a transversely extending mounting beam 80. The lower and rearside of the mounting beam 80, as well as the lower edges of the centralmounting brackets 72 and 74, are secured to a lower pin plate 82.

A pivot bolt 84 is extended through the upper pin plate 70, the interiorof the triangularly shaped brace plate 12, the elongated support beam 10and the lower pin plate 82 to 'pivotally secure the support beam 10 andbrace plate 12 to the transverse mounting beam 80, and the centralmounting brackets 72, 74 and other structure associated with thetransverse mounting beam 80. At the outer end portions of the mountingbeam 80 and projecting forwardly therefrom are a series of outer hitchbrackets, three of these being shown adjacent each end of the mountingbeam and being designated by reference numerals 86, 88 and 90. The outerhitch brackets 86, 88 and 90 at each end of the mounting beam 80 areapertured to receive connecting pins so that these hitch brackets may beselectively employed for connecting the outer hitch links of athree-part hitch connection in the manner hereinafter described. A pairof diagonal braces 92 and 94 extend from a location adjacent the top ofone of the central mounting brackets 72 or 74 to the outer portion ofthe mounting beam 80 and provide structural strength for the scraperblade apparatus.

For the purpose of swinging the elongated support beam 10 about avertical axis so that it may be pivoted in relation to the transverselyextending mounting beam 80, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 96is connected between a lug or bracket 98 secured to the outer endportion of the mounting beam 80 at the back side thereof, and anotherlug or connecting bracket 100 is secured to the lower edge of thecentral portion of the elongated support beam 10. It will be noted thata corresponding pair of lugs or brackets 102 and 104 are respectivelyconnected to the transversely extending mounting beam and to theelongated support beam 10 on the opposite side of the support beam fromthe brackets 98 and 100. If is should be desired, another hydraulicpiston and cylinder assembly corresponding to the assembly 96 could beconnected between the lugs or brackets 102 and 104 for further controlof the pivotal movement of the support beam 10 relative to the mountingbeam 80 if this should be desired. The hydraulic piston and cylinderassembly 96 includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 106 whichslidingly receives a reciprocating fluid-powered piston 108 which isconnected to the bracket 100. As has previously been explained, theguide loop 64 serves to guide and retain in position, a pair ofhydraulic fluid conduits 110 and 112 which supply hydraulic fluid to thedouble-acting cylinder 106.

It should be pointed out that, in place of the hydraulic piston andcylinder assembly 96 depicted in the drawings, a turnbuckle assembly,similar to that shown in FIG. 4 and there designated by referencenumeral 36, could be utilized for pivoting the elongated support beam 10about the pivot bolt 84 in order to change its position in relation tothe mounting beam 80, if this should be desired. Conversely, a hydraulicpiston and cylinder assembly could be used in lieu of the turnbuckleassembly 36 at the rear of the scraper blade member 42 for the purposeof pivoting the scraper blade member 42 about a horizontal axiscoincident with the axis of the pivot pin 28, if this should be desired.

OPERATION In the operation of the scraper blade apparatus of theinvention, the apparatus is connected to a suitable selfpowered vehiclehaving a three-point hitch connection. Connection is effected to theouter hitch brackets 86, 88 and and to the central mounting brackets 72and 74. This places the scraper blade apparatus behind the tractor orother self-powered vehicle and it is ready to perform a variety ofearth-working operations. It may be that it is desirable to swing thescraper blade 42 to one side of the tractor or the other as, forexample, where the tractor can proceed with little difficulty alongrelatively smooth or transversable terrain and it is desired to dig aditch or to perform another operation to one side of the path of thetractor in terrain where it would be difficult to drive the tractor.Such swinging of the concaveconvex scraper blade 42 to one side or theother of the tractor is effected by the use of the hydraulic piston andcylinder assembly 96. Thus, were it desired to swing the blade to theright of the path of movement of the tractor, hydraulic power fluidwould be directed through the hydraulic conduits and 112 to the cylinder106 to extend the piston I08 and thus pivot the elongated supportingbeam 10 to the right with respect to the path of travel of the tractor.This would in turn carry the entire scraper blade assembly at the rearof the support beam 10 to the right with respect to this path of travel.Pivotation of the supporting beam 10 would be effected about the pin 84so that an acute angle would be established between the supporting beam10 and the mounting beam 80. Placement of the scraper blade member 42 atany point to one side or the other of the path of the tractor within thelimits of the stroke of the hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 96can be effected.

Should it be desired to swing or pivot the scraper blade member 42 abouta vertical axis so as to cant or angle the blade member with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the supporting beam 10, this is effectedmanually by depressing the upper end 56 of the securing tongue 54 todisengage the lower end of this tongue from the notches 62 in the pivotplate 20. This allows the pivot plate 20 to rotate or pivot freely onthe mounting bolt 16. When the scraper blade member 42 has, by suchpivotal movement, attained the angularity with respect to the supportingbeam which is desired, the upper end 56 of the securing tongue 54 isreleased so that the securing tongue is returned by the bias of thespring 58 to its position of engagement with one of the notches 62formed in the peripheral edge of the pivot plate 20. Engagement of thesecuring tongue 54 with one of the notches 62 will assure that theelongatd scraper blade member 42 maintains its angular position withrespect to the supporting beam 10.

In some instances, it will be desirable to elevate or lower one or theother of the ends of the elongates scraper blade member 42 in relationto the ground. This is accomplished in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention by the use of the turnbuckle assembly 36. Thus, by turning orrotating the central sleeve of the turnbuckle to draw the threaded rods34 and 38 of the turnbuckle into the sleeve, the turnbuckle assembly isshortened and this will have the effect of causing the left end of theblade member 42 as viewed in FIG. 4 to move downwardly with respect tothe right end thereof, or, stated differently, will cause the blademember 42 to pivot about the pivot pin 28 in a counterclockwisedirection. Conversely, turning the sleeve member of the turnbuckleassembly 36 so as to drive the threaded rods 34 and 38 of the assemblyoutwardly from the sleeve will have the effect of rotating the blademember 42 in the opposite direction, or, stated differently, will causethe right end of the blade member as viewed in FIG. 4 to be loweredrelative to the left end thereof.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will have becomeapparent that the scraper blade apparatus herein disclosed is aversatile, relatively economically constructed, yet operationallyreliable device which can be used for a variety of earth-workingoperations. The control which is provided for the angularity andpositioning of the scraper blade member is very good and can be easilyand quickly effected by a single person.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated in order to illustrate one mode of construction of theapparatus sufficient to permit those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changescan be effected in the illustrated and described structure withoutdeparture from the basic principles of the invention. Changes of thistype are therefore deemed to be within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

lclaim:

l. A scraper blade apparatus comprising:

an elongated, horizontally extending mounting beam;

a pair of mounting brackets secured to a central portion of saidmounting beam;

upper and lower vertically spaced pin plates secured to said mountingbrackets;

an elongated, horizontally extending supporting beam having one endprojecting between said pin plates;

a pivot bolt extending vertically through said pin plates and throughsaid supporting beam to pivotally connect said supporting beam to saidpin plates;

means on said mounting beam for connecting said mounting beam to atractor three-point hitch connection;

a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having one end connected tosaid mounting beam and an opposite end connected to said supporting beamfor automatically altering the angular relationship between the mountingbeam and the supporting beam;

a mounting plate secured to the underside of said supporting beam at theopposite end of said supporting beam from said mounting beam;

a pivot plate pivotally secured to the underside of said mounting platefor pivotation about a vertical axis, said pivot plate havingcircumferentially spaced notches formed in the outer peripheral edgethereof;

at least one bracket secured to said supporting beam;

a securing tongue pivotally connected to said bracket and having aportion enga eable with a selected one of said notches in said pivoplate for arresting the pivotal ovement of said pivot plate in apreselected position relative to said mounting plate;

a blade post secured to and projecting downwardly from,

said pivot plate for pivotal movement therewith;

a concave-convex cross-sectioned scraper blade member;

a socket housing secured to the convex side of said scraper blade memberand receiving the lower end of said blade post;

a pivot pin extending through said socket housing and blade post along ahorizontal axis to pivotally support said blade member on said bladepost; and

a variable length assembly means connected at one end to said blade postand at the other end to said blade member at a point substantiallyhorizontally spaced from said blade post for pivoting said elongatedblade member about a horizontal axis extending through the pivot pinwhich connects the blade member to said blade post.

2. A scraper blade apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said variablelength assembly for pivoting said elongated blade member about saidhorizontal axis comprises a turnbuckle assembly having one end connectedto said blade member at a point spaced horizontally from said horizontalaxis and having a second end connected to said blade post.

3. A scraper blade apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansfor connecting said mounting beam to a tractor comprises:

a first plurality of outer hitch brackets secured to one end portion ofsaid mounting beam;

a second plurality of outer hitch brackets secured to the opposite endportion of said mounting beam from the end portion thereof carrying saidfirst plurality of outer hitch brackets; and

central mounting brackets secured to a central portion of said mountingbeam and projecting upwardly therefrom.

1. A scraper blade apparatus comprising: an elongated, horizontallyextending mounting beam; a pair of mounting brackets secured to acentral portion of said mounting beam; upper and lower vertically spacedpin plates secured to said mounting brackets; an elongated, horizontallyextending supporting beam having one end projecting between said pinplates; a pivot bolt extending vertically through said pin plates andthrough said supporting beam to pivotally connect said supporting beamto said pin plates; means on said mounting beam for connecting saidmounting beam to a tractor three-point hitch connection; a hydraulicpiston and cylinder assembly having one end connected to said mountingbeam and an opposite end connected to said supporting beam forautomatically altering the angular relationship between the mountingbeam and the supporting beam; a mounting plate secured to the undersideof said supporting beam at the opposite end of said supporting beam fromsaid mounting beam; a pivot plate pivotally secured to the underside ofsaid mounting plate for pivotation about a vertical axis, said pivotplate having circumferentially spaced notches formed in the outerperipheral edge thereof; at least one bracket secured to said supportingbeam; a securing tongue pivotally connected to said bracket and having aportion engageable with a selected one of said notches in said pivotplate for arresting the pivotal movement of said pivot plate in apreselected position relative to said mounting plate; a blade postsecured to and projecting downwardly from, said pivot plate for pivotalmovement therewith; a concavo-convex cross-sectioned scraper blademember; a socket housing secured to the convex side of said scraperblade member and receiving the lower end of said blade post; a pivot pinextending through said socket housing and blade post along a horizontalaxis to pivotally support said blade member on said blade post; and avariable length assembly means connected at one end to said blade postand at the other end to said blade member at a point substantiallyhorizontally spaced from said blade post for pivoting said elongatedblade member about a horizontal axis extending through the pivot pinwhich connects the blade member to said blade post.
 2. A scraper bladeapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said variable length assemblyfor pivoting said elongated blade member about said horizontal axiscomprises a turnbuckle assembly having one end connected to said blademember at a point spaced horizontally from said horizontal axis andhaving a second end connected to said blade post.
 3. A scraper bladeapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting saidmounting beam to a tractor comprises: a first plurality of outer hitchbrackets secured to one end portion of said mounting beam; a secondplurality of outer hitch brackets secured to the opposite end portion ofsaid mounting beam from the end portion thereof carrying said firstplurality of outer hitch brackets; and central mounting brackets securedto a central portion of said mounting beam and projecting upwardlytherefrom.